Wendy’s on its Current Concerns (WEN 3Q05 Conf Call Quotes)

Casual restaurant operator Wendy's International (ticker: WEN) held a conference call yesterday to discuss its Q3 2005 earnings results. The following is an exchange from that call:

Steven Kent - Goldman Sachs - Analyst

The first question I had was on Tim's (editor: Tim Hortons). And if I look at the sales trends on multiyear basis it seems to have slowed slightly. Given the drive through business you do this those units, can you comment on the economic sensitivity and the gas price sensitivity perhaps that Tim's in the U.S. is seeing.

Unidentified Company Representative

I think everybody to a certain extent is being affected by the gas price. We're glad to see it moderate, and it has been and we hope it continues. We're also concerned with the latest conference board report on consumer confidence. That was down I think to 85%. But that seems to be more of a lag factor. Really reflecting how people felt 30 days ago or 45 days ago. So if the gas continues to come down, I think that will be good for us. But then again, you have high utility costs right now. And that could affect us.

(Quotes are from the CCBN StreetEvents transcript.)